The “Paragone” of Painting and Sculpture and the Relation of Art Theory and Practice in Benedetto Varchi’s Survey among Florentine Artists in 1547

Antonia Putzger
Trinity College Dublin
Department of History of Art and Architecture
2006
BA

Subject: Painting and Sculpture
Country: Italy
Period: 16th Century

10,000 words

This dissertation examines the letters written by eight painters and sculptors in response to Florentine intellectual Benedetto Varchi’s 1547 challenge to argue “which is the nobler art, painting or sculpture” . The opinions and concepts contained within these letters are considered within the context of each artist’s own artistic endeavours; Michaelangelo, Francesco da Sangallo and Benvenuto Cellini are among those studied. The author deals with the Florentine cultural and intellectual context of the debate and aims to establish a connection between artistic theory and practice in the case of the “paragone” to clarify that it was not just a theoretical exercise thought up by courtly intellects. The study also follows the development of the concept of “disegno” and the changing attitudes to the processes of sculpture and the tasks of painting.

Irish Georgian Society

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The “Paragone” of Painting and Sculpture and the Relation of Art Theory and Practice in Benedetto Varchi’s Survey among Florentine Artists in 1547